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Vindy.com for March 31, 2011
Please note, our last day of publication was Saturday, August 31, 2019.
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Tempers flare as SB 5 approved
Angry union protesters unroll banners in the Ohio House chamber Wednesday after lawmakers approved the controversial legislation limiting collective bargaining for public employees. 
Stories published March 31, 2011
Please note, our last day of publication was Saturday, August 31, 2019.
391 vehicles checked for suspended licenses
The Youngstown Police Department conducted its first driving-under-suspension checkpoint for this year March 18 on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Superior Street on the city’s North Side. During the checkpoint, 391 vehicles were processed.
Stambaugh Golf Course set to open tomorrow
The Youngstown Department of Parks and Recreation says the Henry Stambaugh Golf Course, 202 Gypsy Lane, will open at 10 a.m Friday, weather permitting.
Sign-language class for parents, babies starts Tuesday
Parents and their babies can participate in an interactive class at the Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, 2008 Lynn Ave., and learn basic sign language to communicate and encourage speech development.
Pens lose to Tampa Bay
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Martin St. Louis scored his 30th goal of the season, helping the Tampa Bay
Boehner indicates Republicans may be ready for compromise on budget
Despite fresh pressure from tea party conservatives, House Speaker John Boehner said Thursday that Republicans "can't impose our will" on the White House and Senate Democrats on legislation to cut tens of billions of dollars in federal spending.
Chaney grads lament end of sports tradition
By Karl Henkel khenkel@vindy.com YOUNGSTOWN From Heisman-trophy winning halfback Frank
4 NY residents jailed in Pa. rolling meth-lab case
4 NY residents jailed in Pa. rolling meth-lab case
Canfield woman gets probation for stealing from local churches
Canfield woman gets probatin from stealing from local churches
Japan seeks US, French expertise in nuclear crisis
Japan seeks US, French expertise in nuclear crisis
Pa. Legislature winds up 3 weeks of budget hearings
Pa. Legislature winds up 3 weeks of budget hearings
Officials: Wis. gov. puts union law plans on hold
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Two officials in Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s administration say preparations
Afghan president: Women’s gains to be maintained
DALLAS (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai says advances made in the role of women in Afghanistan
Portman supports Obama hiring Jay Williams
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman supports having Youngstown Mayor Jay Williams join the President Barack Obama
NY judge clears commuter accused of driving train
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — A New York judge has dismissed criminal charges against a commuter charged with
28 people indicted in drug-trafficking ring between Youngstown, NY and San Diego
28 people indicted in drug-trafficking ring between Youngstown, NY & San Diego
Ex-cops sentenced in killing of man after Katrina
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge has sentenced two former New Orleans police officers for their
Kerik’s 4-year prison sentence upheld in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld the tax-fraud conviction and four-year sentence
Girard woman gets probation for stealing money from elderly businessman
Girard woman gets probation for stealing money from elderly businessman
Mahoning commissioners want meeting with chamber CEO on SB5
Mahoning commissioners want meeting with chamber CEO on SB5
Prosecutors seek 2012 trial for suspected pirates
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors want to push back the trial date for 14 suspected pirates by
Owner: Harrisburg, Pa. police wrong to shoot pit bulls
Owner: Harrisburg, Pa. police wrong to shoot pit bulls
Wind, rain bring tornado warnings to central Fla.
KATHLEEN, Fla. (AP) — Thunderstorms battered the Interstate 4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando on
Western Pa. township official charged with stealing $39,000
Western Pa. township official charged with stealing $39,000
Ohio gov. to sign bill limiting union bargaining
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio Gov. John Kasich plans to sign a bill to limit the collective bargaining
Strong winds pull cruise ship from Florida dock
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Strong winds from a passing storm in central Florida separated a
New Amici Trio presents free concert Friday at YSU's Bliss Hall
New Amici Trio presents free concert Friday at YSU's Bliss Hall
Official: Kids gave ‘flu shot’ with found needle
LYNN, Mass. (AP) — School officials in Massachusetts say two elementary school children were given
Pittsburgh man jailed in abandoned baby carjacking
Pittsburgh man jailed in abandoned baby carjacking
US expects bigger corn crop to ease food inflation
ST. LOUIS (AP) — U.S. farmers are expected to boost the size of this year’s corn crop, potentially
Former DC school chief, Gov. Kasich discuss reform
Former DC school chief, Gov. Kasich discuss reform
Radiation slows recovery of dead near Japan plant
FUKUSHIMA, Japan (AP) - In the shadow of Japan’s struggle to stem radioactive leaks from its
UK: No immunity for Libyan minister
LONDON (AP) - Britain refused today to offer Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa immunity from
Press conference today on indictments in Youngstown drug-trafficking ring
Press conference today on indictments in Youngstown drug-trafficking ring
NJ paper gets letter to the editor from The Boss
NEPTUNE, N.J. (AP) — Bruce Springsteen has written a Letter to the Editor to what he calls his
Man, 19, plunges to death at Pittsburgh concert
PITTSBURGH (AP) — A man plunged to his death after police say he crashed through a window at an
Woman dies in horse-riding accident
DUNCANNON, Pa. (AP) — Official say a woman is dead after a horse-riding accident. Perry County
Police: Pa. man on ‘bath salts’ arrested 3 times
WILKES-BARRE, Pa. (AP) — Police say a northeastern Pennsylvania man has been arrested three days in
No joke, more snow expected for Pa.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — More snow is on its way. No foolin’. The National Weather Service says up to 8
Tilikum retuned to SeaWorld show, performs flawlessly
The killer whale that drowned a female trainer at Orlando's SeaWorld flawlessly performed Wednesday for the first time since last year's death, wowing thousands amid heightened safety that included a steel bar protecting the orca's trainers.
OUT-OF-TOWN BIRTHS
Mark and Lisa (Khoury) Leszynski of Strongsville, Ohio, are announcing the birth of their second
Gardner-Weeden wedding date is announced
Sausirae K. Gardner and DuJuane D. Weeden Sr., both of Youngstown, plan to be married at 4 p.m. June
Samargia-Pflug wedding date is announced
The engagement of Leigh Ann Samargia and Gregory A. Pflug, both of Austintown, and plans for their
Christine Harvey and Matthew Berg plan Dec. wedding
Christine M. Harvey, daughter of Rebecca Long and Richard Harvey, all of McDonald, is engaged to
St. Jude Church plans super bingo
St. Jude Church plans super bingo COLUMBIANA St. Jude Church, 180 Seventh St., will sponsor a
Stambaugh Pillars conducts annual membership drive
In addition to conducting its regular annual membership drive, Stambaugh Pillars are offering a new membership category for young people.
ANNIE’S MAILBOX: Nipping hubby’s situation in the bud
By Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Dear Annie: I desperately need someone to tell me whether or not
HELOISE: Cleaning ‘musty’ down pillows
Dear Heloise: I have some goose-down pillows that smell “musty,” and I would like to know how to
Gadhafi recaptures oil town; West mulls arming rebels
Moammar Gadhafi's ground forces recaptured a strategic oil town Wednesday and moved within striking distance of another major eastern city, nearly reversing the gains rebels made since international airstrikes began.
Youngstown schools restructuring goal: more options, savings
Parents and business leaders expressed support for a plan to restructure the city schools beginning this fall.
Ice Castle becomes White Castle
YSU sophomore Adaris Bellamy first saw snow last semester and the Florida native often grabbed his roommates from Arizona and California to have impromptu snowball fights.
Council OKs $154M budget with plan to add 11 cops
City council members approved a budget but vowed to make other changes, including increases in funding for demolition and street paving, in the coming weeks.
Host Raiders roll in Bubba Classic
The opportunity to play for fun on their home court one last time was all the motivation Warren Harding seniors Craig McFerrin, Tre’ Brown and Quenten Jackson needed to put on a show.
Phantoms facing must-win contests in USHL
With six games remaining in the USHL regular season, it’s crunch time for the Youngstown Phantoms and the Waterloo Black Hawks in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff spot.
Former inmate serving community
The past 11 years have seen Glen Williams going from serving time to serving his community.
Official: Child abuse growing in Columbiana County
In a cold wind, people gathered around the gazebo on the village square Wednesday to face a bitter reality.
Tressel apologizes again
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel apologized for letting people down Wednesday.
Gas leak leads to evacuation
A small gas leak Wednesday led to the evacuation of Dobbins Elementary School.
VCU’S POINT MAN
Joey Rodriguez had just finished saying, without flinching, that he believes VCU can win the national championship when someone challenged him.
Trooper terminated from position
The Canfield Ohio State Highway Patrol trooper who was arrested in January on charges of vandalism and aggravated disorderly conduct has lost his job.
Kent Salem professor receives international arboricultural award
Chris Carlson, an associate professor of biological sciences and horticulture technology at Kent State University at Salem, recently received the Award of Merit from the International Society of Arboriculture.
ODNR officials confirm bat syndrome has reached Ohio
White-nose Syndrome, a fatal syndrome targeting bats, has reached Ohio.
Tempers flare as SB 5 approved
Angry union protesters unroll banners in the Ohio House chamber Wednesday after lawmakers approved the controversial legislation limiting collective bargaining for public employees. 
Hundreds turn out for chamber protest
More than 400 people protested Wednesday afternoon outside the Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber’s headquarters downtown because of the chamber’s endorsement of Senate Bill 5.
Opening Day
Grab the parka, ski cap, mittens and galoshes. It’s time for baseball.
Biden: ‘Good progress’ on talks
Associated Press WASHINGTON Vice President Joe Biden reported “good progress” Wednesday in
UConn justifies coach’s faith in players
Heading into the postseason at the end of February, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun had lost his battle with the NCAA, his sister-in-law to cancer, and four of five basketball games.
UK: Libyan minister expected to resign
Libyan Foreign Minister Moussa Koussa arrived in Britain on Wednesday and is resigning from his post, Britain’s government said.
Low levels of radiation found in US milk
Very low levels of radiation turned up in a sample of milk from Washington state, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Food and Drug Administration said Wednesday.
Bobcats hold off Cavaliers
The Charlotte Bobcats keep losing key players to injury. Then they keep watching their opponents miss game-winning shots at the buzzer.
Harsch gets 15 years in prison
A Warren man is headed to prison for 15 years for kidnapping, raping and robbing his former girlfriend, burglarizing her home and fleeing from a state trooper.
Teachers agree to contract
South Range’s possible deficit dilemma got a little bit less hectic after the district and its teachers union agreed to a new two-year contract, according to school officials.
Economy growing without jobs
The United States is out of step with the rest of the world’s richest industrialized nations: Its economy is growing faster than theirs but creating far fewer jobs.
Students spend time testing water quality and analyzing insects
Students at Volney Rogers Middle School donned waders and rubber gloves to test the water quality in a stream that flows behind the school.
Americans souring more on finances
For all the talk of recovery, Americans are growing increasingly pessimistic about the economy as soaring gas costs strain already-tight budgets.
Efforts to cut costs being made
History likely won’t repeat itself in the Poland School district despite numerous efforts to shave costs following state funding cutbacks.
Teachers agree to extension
Austintown teachers will receive a 1 percent salary increase for 2010-11 and a pay freeze for 2011-12 under a two-year contract extension.
Man gets probation for abduction
An East Side man will spend three years on probation for charges related to the abduction of and domestic violence against the mother of his children.
$750K judgment awarded to wife
Patricia Athey, the executor of the estate of her husband, Larry Athey Sr., has been awarded a $750,000 judgement by Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike.
JFK High School evacuated after gas leak discovered
John F. Kennedy High School was evacuated Wednesday evening after a gas leak was discovered.
METRO DIGEST | Course to open
The Youngstown Department of Parks and Recreation says the Henry Stambaugh Golf Course, 202 Gypsy Lane, will open at 10 a.m Friday.
Police investigating incidents
Police are investigating the shooting of a 17-year-old student, a pistol whipping and an armed robbery, all in a span of less than 24 hours.
Teaspoon of force
Opinion: You don’t just walk up to the local bully and slap him across the face. If you are determined to
ODDLY ENOUGH | Tabby in Britain is purrfect purring machine
ODDLY ENOUGH Tabby in Britain is purrfect purring machine LONDON No need to bell this cat: A
Campbell official: There is problem with junk in city
By Jeanne Starmack starmack@vindy.com CAMPBELL The city’s zoning inspector is doing some
Become a Doctor of Baseball
Opinion: WASHINGTON A wit once said, “Finish last in your league and they call you Idiot. Finish last in
NEWSMAKERS | ‘Teen Mom’ star charged after assault
NEWSMAKERS ‘Teen Mom’ star charged after assault OAK ISLAND, N.C. A North Carolina teenager
Answers to George Will quiz
Opinion: Answers to George Will quiz (1) Brooks Robinson (Orioles) and Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox). (2)
Obama can appease critics of his anti-Gadhafi stance
Editorial: There are people in this coun- try, especially Republicans in Congress and conservative
Poland and Boardman police calls
POLICE CALLS A summary of recent criminal activity in Poland and Boardman townships: POLAND
Selected local stocks
Selected local stocks STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE Aqua America, .62, 22.74 —.01 Avalon
CD RATES
CD RATES The table shows the annual percentage yield as of Wednesday. All yields given in percent.
Woman charged with sexual contact
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR. jgoodwin@vindy.com YOUNGSTOWN A Struthers woman has entered into a plea
College drug test policies are varied
When it comes to college sports and drug testing, policies are as varied as the schools themselves.
Former Buckeyes to visit Eastwood Mall
The Ohio State Sugar Bowl victory is just a memory. Now, some of the players who made it a reality are coming to the Eastwood Mall.
Fish and Djokovic advance at Sony tourney
Novak Djokovic extended his winning streak to 24 consecutive matches by beating Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinals at the Sony Ericsson Open.
Mahoning County court filings
courts MAHONING COUNTY Divorces asked Colleen Motton, P.O. 971, Youngstown, v. William Motton
Ex-player Velarde on stand at Bonds trial
As prosecutors moved closer to finishing their case against Barry Bonds, former major league infielder Randy Velarde described meeting the slugger’s personal trainer outside spring training ballparks for injections.
Schools’ finance panel hopes for lower levy millage in ’13
Members of the city schools finance committee hope that if the district asks voters to approve a property- tax levy when the 9.5-mill measure expires, it will be for lower millage.
Searching for sleep
Peter Manschot woke up in a hotel room and found his wife, Emily, sleeping in the bathroom.
HEALTH NEWS DIGEST | Check Out Hunger
Through April 23, Sparkle Market customers can help Check Out Hunger, a program to benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
Births
Births ValleyCare NorthSide Medical center Brian and Chanell McMeans, Boardman, girl, March 30.
‘someone who’ll watch over me’ Stripped-down drama puts the focus on performance
Frank McGuinness’ 1993 hostage drama “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me” might seem like an unexpected choice for the director.
BUSINESS NEWS DIGEST | Johnson & Johnson reorganizes unit
Johnson & Johnson is reorganizing its McNeil Consumer Healthcare unit to give more attention to the business.
Five things that make us wonder
Opinion: Five things that make us wonder After 73 years as a passen- ger aboard Starship Earth, please
HEALTH NEWS DIGEST | Spring symposium
Spring symposium SHARON, PA. Tuesday is the deadline to register for the Women’s Center of
K.C. is Google’s ultra-fast choice
Google said Wednesday it will make Kansas City its first site for its ultra-fast broadband network.
Banks will use federal funds to repay bailout
Some banks will use money from a government program aimed at increasing small business loans to repay their federal bailouts, according to the Treasury Department official who oversees the bailout program.
New This week
New This week Hop (PG) An out-of-work slacker crosses paths with the teenage son of the Easter
Vitamin E can help with scars
Q. When I had knee- replacement surgery, the physical therapist recommended cocoa butter with
BCS puts Fiesta Bowl on notice
The head of the BCS put the Fiesta Bowl on notice Wednesday: “Follow the letter of the law” or lose its place in college football’s lucrative championship system.
Boardman teen’s band is keeping up with the Joneses
Don’t let Liam Jones’ age fool you, the 16-year-old singer- guitarist and visionary behind Liam Jones & The Overtones appears to be beyond his years.
High school dropout rate
Opinion: The Advocate, Baton Rouge, La.: If changing the yardstick does make the number look better, there’s
The Oakland’s ‘Fat Pig’ examines relationships
Christopher Fidram (“Dinner With Friends,” “Rabbit Hole”) is finally stepping back into the director’s chair with the upcoming Oakland Center for the Arts production of Neil LaBute’s controversial “Fat Pig.”
U.S. & WORLD NEWS DIGEST | Dyes-hyperactivity link investigated
Dyes-hyperactivity link investigated WASHINGTON Some evidence links dyes found in everyday foods
Keep unscrupulous contractors out
Opinion: By Neil Gordon Other Words The Pentagon reported in January that it had awarded more than $270
Celtic Woman Another wave of Irish music
It was more than six years ago when Irish actress-singer Lisa Lambe first heard that composer-producer David Downes was co-creating performance act Celtic Woman.
For Johnny Mathis, life is all about singing
Chances are, Johnny Mathis’ show Friday at the Palace Theater in Cleveland will sell out just like his past four Cleveland performances.
2011 will be a mile mark in history
Opinion: Stop for a moment. Look around you and make a note of this time and place, because years from now
Suge’s DVD reveals hip-hop scene
Youngstown rapper Suge B’s first film project, “Self-Made TV: 10 Years Deep,” is an in-your-face — and frequently hilarious — guerrilla-style glimpse of the state’s hip-hop scene.
NIGHTLIFE
All Starz Sports Grille, 4055 Belmont Ave., Liberty; 330-759-0895 Thu: DJ URS Truly (no cover), 9
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